Deputy Editor, Daily Life

Choice threads: Parents of students at PLC have an 18-page uniform list to contend with. Photo: Anna Kucera

Even a public school's humble polo-shirt-and-short combo can prove costly with multiple children to clothe. And then come the other seasonal necessities - hats and headbands, lunch boxes and library bags and, of course, the dreaded leather school shoes.

But the elaborate uniform lists at some of Sydney's most privileged private schools - 18 pages long at one school - can include up to seven hat styles, five different bags and more than a dozen hair accessories.

It really adds up with the fees and the uniforms and it has to be the right colour tights and hair accessories

The most basic uniform requirements at the wealthiest schools would set a family back at least $1000 per child, with some price tags exceeding $300 for a blazer, $75 for a panama hat and almost $100 for backpacks.

Brother and sister: Bailey (7) and Hannah (5) Flood are all ready to go for school next week. Photo: Edwina Pickles

The Smith Family charity estimated the cost of attending a public primary school this year at more than $2000 per child, before school fees and excursions.

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Stanmore Public School mother Kate Perston said that would still be more affordable than child care and far more so than a private school.

"We wouldn't be able to afford the expenses at private schools," she said. "It really adds up with the fees and the uniforms and it has to be the right colour tights and hair accessories."

Regulation hosiery is indeed featured on some uniform lists. As are regulation scarves, gloves, swimming caps, art smocks, crested umbrellas and reversible raincoats.

At PLC Sydney, the uniform shop's pricelist is 18 pages long and includes options like a $65 PLC Sydney Watch and a $47 embroidered towel. The extensive catalogue of hair accessories includes elastics, clips, ribbon, headband, satin bow, pigtails clip or scrunchie.

And extracurricular activities come at an additional price, be it sporting strips, music performance outfits of cadet uniforms.

Ms Perston, from Enmore, was one of many parents embarking on the final back-to-school shop ahead of the resumption of classes next week.

She said for her family last-minute organisation meant ensuring she had "enough socks and underpants" for her two primary school children and applying labels.

"You've got to label everything," the mother of 5-year-old Hannah and 7-year-old Bailey said. "They drum that into you. Label everything. And that's another expense."

Rachael Sowden from the NSW Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations said families would be making the most of the Schoolkids Bonus- $205 for each primary school child and $410 for each in secondary school- which the federal government plans to scrap after this payment.

"There certainly are a lot of parents who do it tough at this time," she said. "Back to school comes right off the back of Christmas, which is expensive, so it piles up."

She said public schools aimed to maintain minimal uniform demands.

"Whilst schools like to enforce uniform and think it's important, they can't discriminate against children who, for whatever reason, don't wear one," she said. "So they're not actually compulsory."